Mumbai witnessed hazy conditions with hot and humid weather on Saturday. Day time temperatures hovered around 35 degree Celsius and fluctuated, dipping to 33 degree Celsius by evening.

Mumbai witnessed hazy conditions with hot and humid weather on Saturday. Day time temperatures hovered around 35 degree Celsius and fluctuated, dipping to 33 degree Celsius by evening. Earlier this week on Monday, the onset of October heat drove the mercury up to 37 degree Celsius, making it the hottest September day since 1950.

On Saturday, the maximum temperature at Colaba was 33.3 degree Celsius and at Santacruz it was 33.8 degree Celsius. The relative humidity at Colaba was 90% while at Santacruz it was 73%.

The rise in temperatures and ensuing formation of thunder clouds has also caused hazy conditions across the city during evenings. The Met department recorded a drop in visibility to 2,000 metres from the normal levels of 5,000 metres. According to Met officials, the hazy conditions would continue till the monsoon withdraws from the city completely.

“As we approach evening, the daytime land heating causes formation of thunder clouds. These are medium or low clouds that obstruct sunlight. The haze is a direct result of the cloud formation,” said KS Hosalikar, deputy director general, India Meteorological Department, western region.

“The downward draft of air from these thunder clouds is a common sight just before thundershowers and a lot of dust gets lifted in the atmosphere owing to the winds,” added Hosalikar. According to the Met’s forecast, the city will continue to sweat it out over the next two days and can expect thundershowers in the evening.